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Letter to the Editor, Irish Times, 20th December 2006
Madam,
Three-and-a-half years into the mayhem, the international community looks on as Darfur sinks further into an abyss, spiralling out of control. The genocide there has stolen the lives of 400,000 people and is strangling the life out of a region where 4 million people now depend on aid agencies to stay alive.
But even aid agencies have been forced to ship out, owing to the deteriorating security situation, leaving this already devastated community further exposed and at risk.
Given the Sudanese government's record, it seems quite likely that, with international observers out of the way, Khartoum can complete the genocide.
Yet still the diplomatic wrangling and UN-sponsored talk shops have mumbled on: meetings, discussions, more meetings, conferences, discussion groups and more meetings.
Having passed some 13 resolutions, with the latest calling for the deployment of a 20,000-strong UN force in the region, the UN has clearly failed Darfur. There must now be a willingness to send nothing short of a robust UN force to Sudan - even without the consent of the regime in Khartoum.
The question is whether the US and other nations will act to prevent further tragedy in Darfur or merely express sorrow and act later to deal with its aftermath. The choice is stark: to end a genocide, or let it continue.
Yours, etc,
John O'Shea
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